Needle-threader.



T. S. MORTON.

NEEDLE THREADER.

APPLICATION men SEPT.28, 1915.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

INVENTOR 7200mm! Mar/012 BY 5 UNITED sTA'rns PATENT onmcn.

THOMAS S. MORTON, OF TUXEDO PARK, NEW' YORK.

NEEDLE-THREADER.

Application filed September 28, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it .known that I, THOMAS S. MORTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Tuxedo Park, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Needle-Threaders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for inserting thread into hand operated sewing needles and has as its objects, first, to provide an unusually efficient implement for the purpose, having provisions for needles of varying sizes of eyes and thread used.

A second object is to arrange the device so as to operate very rapidly, being partially automatic, thereby saving time.

A third object is to provide such devices in forms adapted to be permanently applied to household sewing stands, where they can be adjusted as to convenience and angle of operation.

These and other objects are attained by the novel combination of parts hereafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a needle threading appliance, made in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. sectional view, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 4: is a fragmental perspective view showing the principal operative elements, and Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of the drawing-in device.

The base 10 of the appliance is a flat plate secured to any convenient support, as the top of a sewing table or stand such as commonly used for holding fabrics to be sewn with the ordinary accessories. From the base rises an upright 11 to which is pivotally attached the frame 12 by the pivot screw 13 and lock nut 14, whereby the frame may be adjusted in any preferred angular position with reference to the table.

At the extreme front of the frame, secured to the sides, are two spring arms 15, normally in close contact at the frame end and spreading slightly at the outer, curved ends 16, to allow the entrance of a needle 17 to be threaded and which is held under tension of the arms in an adjusted position to bring the eye 18 into register with the Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 3 is a transverse Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Serial No. 53,106.

hook 20, which is adapted to enter and pass through the eye, engage with the thread 19 and draw the bight or doubled portion through the eye as it returns. These hooks 20 are made in several sizes to suit various needles and are held in a shank 21 by the stem 22, the shank being slidable in a groove 23 and held therein by the clasp 24 formed with the arms 15. A slotted recess 25 is made near the opposite end of the shank 21 and normally engaged in the reccss is a latch 26, hinged at 27 to a slide 30 engaging the sides of the frame 12 and operating limitedly within a recess 31 formed in the lower edge of the frame.

The side of the slide 30 opposite the hinge is formed into a central tongue 32, acting as a guide for the spaced ends of the latch 26, which is held in place by the sliding clip 33, held by the screw 34 and provided with a hand lever 35, the operative edge having a projection 36 adapted to engage with the slot 37 formed in the tongue 32 when pressed forward, thus locking the shank 21 to the slide 30.

The slide is connected with a runner 38 having an extension 39 engaged with one end of a pull spring 40, attached to the pin 41 set in thevframe 12; an actuating knob 42 is fastened to the extension afiording a convenient operating means for actuating the hook; a guide43 holds the runner in position on top of the frame.

A shoulder 44; is formed on one side of the runner extending over the frame and engageable with it is a snap catch 45, formed of spring material and so shaped as to be easily depressed by the fingers of an operator, allowing the runner, slide and thread hook to move back under the pull of the spring, drawing the thread through the eye of the needle.

From the foregoing the manner of construction, operation and use will be obvious and it will be understood that minor deviations from the drawing and description may be made within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is:

1. In a needle threader, a base, a tilting frame pivoted thereon, needle engaging means combined with said frame, a hook suited to the eye of a needle, a holder for the hook, a latch engaging with said holder,

means to secure said latch in position, means H for advancing said holder, a spring catch for maintaining the holder in an advanced position, said spring catch constituting a releasing means and means for the automatic return of said holder when said catch is released.

2. In a needle threader adapted to be secured upon a stand, a base, a plate pivoted at one end to said base, means for clamping said plate, a slide limitedly operable on said plate, means for drawing said slide toward said base, means for actuating said slide, means for holding said slide when in an advanced position, a hook engageable with said slide, means for engaging a needle in the path of said hook and. means for guiding said hook through the needle eye.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS S. MORTON.

- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. .G. 

